"You are already =
born with=20
what you need to be successful. It rests within your souls and =
spirits.=20
What we seek to do today is help these seeds of skills =
sprout."=20
Thus Dr. Tonia =
Causey-Bush of=20
Fontana, the Ganesha High School graduate who founded Sacred=20
SISTAHS Inc., explained the purpose of Sacred SISTAHS' =
second=20
annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Conference for =
middle and=20
high school girls.

Education, empowerment and exploration were the triple =
goals of the=20
conference held April 14 at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont.

Sacred Sisters In Solidarity Teaching And Healing our =
Spirits, a=20
nonprofit educational mentoring program for African-American =
girls; Harvey=20
Mudd College and Transcendence Children Services in Pomona =
cooperatively=20
presented the conference because of a common concern about the low =
number=20
of black girls and women in STEM college majors and careers.

"Excellence is your business. Be nothing less and nothing =
short of=20
that," Causey-Bush warned.

Women who'd already achieved success in the four =
male-dominated=20
study fields, businesses and careers conducted conversations and =
workshops=20
for the day designed to inspire confidence and disciplined focus =
among the=20
young girls.

"Behavior is caught, not taught," Butler claimed, quoting =
the=20
phrase she'd heard her father say since she was a little girl.

Butler teaches ecological-minded individuals and =
residential=20
contractors how to build sustainable homes that are healthy for =
the planet=20
and humanity. Green, obviously, is her favorite color because it =
refers to=20
the increasing trend to consider environmental balance and =
conservation=20
measures in building construction.

"It was very empowering. When Bridget finished with me, I =
knew I=20
could build a house from the ground up. And that's what I'm going =
to do,"=20
Maat said, announcing her and husband Ahmses' decision to build a =
new home=20
and artistic retreat based on green principles.

Williams used the floral and vegetable gardens she and her =
husband=20
Donald designed and installed at their Pomona home as an analogy.

They were "paralyzed" for nearly three years, afraid to do=20
something they knew nothing about, Williams admitted. They finally =
remembered the scripture about there being a season for everything =
under=20
heaven, discarded their fears, identified short- and long-term =
gardening=20
goals, found a landscape consultant and applied planting, thinning =
and=20
harvesting instructions they'd researched.

"Imagine the outcome. Envision the harvest. Plant seeds of=20
innovation. And take the steps necessary to harvest positive=20
possibilities," Williams said, likening the bright blossoms and =
wonderful=20
produce she and her husband enjoyed to the girls' desire for =
college=20
acceptance, graduation and interesting STEM careers.

Alberto Ruiz, a Harvey Mudd physics major who migrated from =
Venezuela to Miami at age 10, served as a student guide and =
resource=20
agent. He felt his experiences could help and inspire the girls.

"A lot of minorities and women sometimes feel alienated and =
intimidated by science, math and technology," conceded Ruiz, an =
honor=20
student. "But success in these fields is possible if you want it. =
You must=20
first believe in yourself. We also believe in you and know nothing =
is=20
impossible with personal faith and hard work."

Identify what is available and personally interesting, then =
use=20
that knowledge to stay focused and disciplined, Sidney Butler =
advised.=20
Seek out teachers who care and accept the good character =
exemplified by=20
family elders to realize your destiny, he added.

Nia comes from a family filled with educators, including =
mother=20
Danielle Rasshan and grandparents Victoria and Khalif Rasshan, =
who've made=20
sure she's not afraid to tackle technical projects others may be =
reluctant=20
to pursue.

"I really like math and science, so I thought this would be =
a good=20
chance to learn more," Nia said. "I was right."

Daria agreed with Nia, her cousin. She carefully selected =
workshops=20
so she could discover more details about technology and add that =
knowledge=20
to her interests in science and math. Thandiwe voiced particular =
pleasure=20
about the conference's empowering elements which increased girls'=20
self-confidence.

Elysse Lawson, 14, of Fontana said conference adults showed =
her=20
"women can do whatever they put their minds to do if they have the =
courage=20
to overcome challenges."

Autumn Dubra, 14, her 11-year-old sister Courtney and their =
friend=20
Briana Arrington, 11, said their strengths in math and science =
enhance=20
their artistic pursuits as student musicians, dancers and =
designers and=20
that the lessons stressed by their respective mothers, Angela =
Dubra and=20
Brandi Arrington, were reinforced by conference speakers.=20